Valve spring lifter



Feb. 14, 1933. H. A. BERKMAN VALVE SPRING LIFTER Filed July 23, 1931 Patented Feb. 14, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HERBERT A. BER/KHAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T'O ZIM MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS VALVE SPRING LIFTER,

Application filed .Tu1y 23,

The present invention may be said to have for its object to produce a simple and novel device for lifting the springs of poppet valves of internal combustion engines, which shall be free from the objectionable features inherent in prior lifting devices.

Specifically considered, the present invention may be said to have for one of its objects to produce a device in which there shall be a great multiplication of the force applied to an operating member, such as a hand lever, for example, to produce the lifting action; to have for another of its objects the production of a device in which the initial operating force is applied at a point quite remote from the work-engaging elements, so as to permit the tool to be easily operated in situations where the space around the valve stem is obstructed; to have for another of its objects to produce a tool that is long and slender to permit it to be inserted through a small space, and be operable from its outer end; and to have for still another object the production of a tool so shaped as to clear obstructions close to the spring to be lifted.

In carrying out my invention in a manner that embodies all of its features, I employ two long, slender arms hinged together at one end and having the other end shaped to engage the work. The arms are so formed, near the work-engaging end, that one of them has therein a bend that passes the other arm when the arms are closed upon each other, thus permitting the arms to spread apart even though there be near the valve spring to be lifted a stationary lug, rib or other member that would otherwise prevent the arms from spreading apart. The spreading of the arms is accomplished by means of a lever located at the hinge end of the device where it will not encounter obstructions and may be freely operated; the force of the lever being greatly multiplied and transmittedto the arms near the work-engaging end by means of elements that will function properly in any space into which the arms themselves can enter.

The various features of novelty whereby my invention is characterized will hereinafter be pointed out with particularity in 1931. Serial No. 552,691.

the claims; but, for a full understanding of i the tool as it appears in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a.

longitudinal section in a plane at right angles to the hinge axis, showing the tool fully open or spread; Fig. 4 is a section, on a larger scale, on line 4-4 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 5 is a section, on line 55, of Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawing, 1 and 2 represent two long arms hinged together at one end by means of a hinge pin 3 passing through the same. Each arm is conveniently composed of two flat bars set on edge and spaced apart from each other; the members constituting the arm 1 being far enough apart to receive between them the other arm. The manner in which the spacing of the bars is effected will be explained later. The free ends of the arms are suitably shaped to form seats for the lower end of a spring, as indicated at 4, 4, and feet 5, 5 adapted to rest on a stationary part below the spring. The arm 1 has a long, deep bend 6 therein, just behind or inwardly from the work-engaging part. When the arms are closed together, as indicated in Fig. 6, the'bent portion of the arm 1 dips well below the top of the armQ. Therefore, the arms may be spread far apart before the bottom of valley in the top of the bar 1 reaches the height at which the work-en gaging part of this arm stands when the arms are closed. In other words, the bend in the arm will permit the tool to be opened whenever there is enough head room to permit the nose of the tool to be slipped under a valve spring.

Between the rear ends of the two bars constituting the arm 2 is a cam 7 having fixed thereto and projecting therefrom a lever 8, thus spacing these bars apart at their rear ends. The forward portions of the bars are held apart by a tubular spacer or roller 9 disposed at some distance inwardly fromthe work-engaging element 5. A rivet 10 passingthrough the two bars and through the 100 member 9' connects these three elements together, the bars being held in fixed spaced relation toeach other. Resting at its front end v the arm and serves as aguide on which the stem moves when shifting in the lengthwise direction.

i 7 The-barsof thearm llieviou'tside of. the

on the member 9 is a long bar or stem 11 in the form of a long, narrow plate set on edge. The

V rear portion of the stem lies between the two bars of the arm 2, the extreme end engaging with the forward edge of the cam 7. The stem has therein, near the rear end, a long slot 12 extending lengthwise thereofL Apin or rivet 13, extending through the two members of the arm 2 andthe slot 12,' holds the stem to "other arm whereby the armsemay -be nested the. work-engaging ends 4' and 5.. Just inwardlyl from or in rear iof the bend 6 in the-arm Land-directly above the spacer-9,

is a spacing. roller 14 arranged between the two bars of thelarmf and: secured thereby by 7' a rivet -15 whichextends through the roller andthexarm members. Thisroller. has a peripheral groove 16 whose width equals the thickness of the stem .11 so that the .upper'edge of the stem may be received in the groove.

At the extreme forward end ofthe stem 11 is a cam orwedge 17 in the formof'a spear head.

a The parts aresoproportion e d that, when th'e'handle or lever 8 is swung back, as shown in Figs; 1 and-2', the stem 11 may be retracted untilonly; the extreme point'of the spear head iies between the members 19 and 14-. When the flev'er is swung up, the cam 77 force'sthe stem and spearhead forward, and the spearhead,

V actingasca-wedge, forces the members 9 and 14' apart, spreading the arms of the device.

' Thisispreading action continues until the lever has been laid flat on the arm 1, as indicated in Fig. 3. It will be seen that'the cam greatly multiplies the force applied to the lever,- this resultant forcebeing. again greatly multiplied'by the-wedge'17; Consequen 1y, a sm'alljforce or pressure applied to the lever will be translated intola very powerful I force applied to'the armsin-Za directionto spread them. a

vided with a handle 20 for turningit. V The nut may be screwed tight'in any positionof the cam, thus causing the four bars of which the arms are made and the cam to be firmly clamped together and preventing any closing of the :armsnntil the nut is backed off.

The worleengaging ends of the arms may be in the form of jaws and, 1f deslred, these Jaws may be ad usted by means of screws.

"Thus, in thearrangement shown, thejpartsof 'the bars-of'ithe armrl projecting beyondthe one within the other to the extent permitted;

roller ltare connected together by a screw 21 extending through both of them. Similarly-, a screw 22 passes through the forwardly projecting parts "of-"the bars that form the lower arm '2. B y means of the screws, the jaws may be'spreadornarrowed,"asidesired. While I have illustrated and described "with;rparticula-rityi only aQ'sihgle; parenta fprimo'f my idle-@9113- iot desire tfdibe ited to the a structural detailsfthus illustrated and described g b ut intend fto cov- ,Iclan'n:

all fforms and arrangements which come within the 'de finitions l of; my invention constitutingftheappended claimsL.

; lfAfdevice of'the char'acte ndescribed, two arms, hinged together at one end'and shaped at the other end to engage the work, a cam mounted between said arms and retatableabout the hingea'xis of the arms, allewe; fixed to 'and proj ecting from the cam for turning the same,; a stem disposed between and extending lengthwise of the arms, one end of said stem abutting against said cam, a wedge formation at the other: endofthe stem, and labutments on said arms o'nf'opposite E sides. of; and in engagement with said wedge fQrmatiQ lQ whereby, when theflever isswung in a direction to causethe stem to be pushed for,ward,-the worlr-engaging ends of the arms are moved relatively toea-chother.

j, 2. In a device zfof the character described,

two arins,' each= in the :formof two 'long pare allelqbar's,'the rear ends offsaid arms being nested, a'cam'disposed betweenitherear ends vjof sa d arms, a h nge, pm-extend ng'through the fournbars at'their l" ends Ofthe arms i andthitoughfsaid ca m, cooperating The cam 7 is preferably soi shapedv that, 77 I when the lever is the. position shown" in r Fig. '8, it acts asra lock' to prevent thefarms I from'closing. In fact, the'cam maybe made to serve as a lock in any angular position .w'ith the pin rename the, cam'andthe arms together, a l'ever fixedtoand pro ect1ng from the cam,fa fiat stem extending; forwardly throughthe'device. from said cam toward the free ends of the arms ,afwedge formation at 5 1 thereof. If an additional locking action is if: 5 0 the other.end r.rf-the loolt'is nut 19 ,pro- Q the end of said" stem, and elements-ion, the arms engaging with opposite edges. of said ,jwea e formation. 

